SkinMyth buster
Artificial Nails Do Not Repair Damaged Natural Nails
Covering brittle, soft or damaged nails can worsen existing problems, according to AAD.
ArticlesTopic 07
Skin
Adult acne, dark patches, bumps and redness. Evidence over hype for the skin you’re in.
SkinGuide
At-Home Glycolic Peels and AHA Products: Strength, pH and the Sunburn Alert
Glycolic and lactic acid pads, serums and peels promise smoother, brighter skin. FDA research found they make skin more sensitive to sunburn, and the strongest "peelers" cause the most problems.
SkinExplainer
Little Red Dots on Your Skin After 50: Cherry Angiomas and Removal Options
Those bright red bumps on the chest, back and arms are usually cherry angiomas, harmless blood vessel growths that show up in about three in four adults over 75. Removal is mostly cosmetic and may leave a scar. A sudden crop of many new spots, or a red bump that changes or bleeds easily, deserves a closer look.
SkinChecklist
Dark Spot and Skin-Lightening Creams: How to Spot Mercury Before It Harms You
Some imported creams sold for age spots, freckles and wrinkles contain mercury. The FDA warns against them, and CDC reports describe whole households exposed and a woman left severely disabled. Here are the label checks that matter.
SkinChecklist
Dermal Fillers After 50: FDA Safety Checks Before You Book
Fillers for smile lines, cheeks, lips and the backs of the hands are FDA-regulated medical devices, not spa treatments. The FDA warns against needle-free filler pens, at-home injections and fillers bought online, and lists the warning signs that need emergency care.
SkinChecklist
Makeup Before a Dermatology Visit: Plan for a Bare-Skin Examination
Confirm cosmetic preparation so the dermatologist can examine your skin and nails without covering products.
SkinChecklist
Using Emollients? Check the Bath and Floor for Slipping Risks
Include bathroom surfaces in your skin-care precautions.
SkinThe short version
Emollient Tub Hygiene: Use a Clean Spoon or Spatula
A clean utensil helps reduce infection risk from a contaminated pot.
SkinEvidence check
Do You Need a Yearly Full-Body Skin Check? What the Task Force Says
Many women book an annual head-to-toe skin exam after 50. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says there isn't enough evidence to weigh the benefits and harms of routine checks for people without symptoms. That doesn't apply to a spot that's changing or to anyone with past skin cancer.
SkinMyth buster
Hand Sanitizer Does Not Replace Washing Dirty or Greasy Hands
After gardening, sport or food handling, visibly dirty or greasy hands need soap and water.
SkinThe short version
After a Hot Tub: Change Out of Your Swimsuit and Shower
CDC advises removing your swimsuit, showering with soap and washing the suit to reduce hot-tub rash risk.
SkinExplainer
Hydrochlorothiazide and Skin Cancer: What the Blood Pressure Pill's Label Now Says
Hydrochlorothiazide, a common water pill for blood pressure, now carries label language about a higher risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, mainly squamous cell carcinoma in white patients after years of use. The absolute risk is small, but the label advises sun protection and regular skin checks. Here is what the studies found.
